Machine for wrapping rye bread



Dec. 18, 1934. IF.' R. SCHMITT 1,984,812

MACHINE FOR WRAP'PING RYE BREAD Filed July 2, 19:50 2 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 4^

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ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assilnor to American Machine & Foundry Com- Dany, a corporation of New Jersey Application .my z. 1930, semi No. 465,427

V1'] Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in wrapping machines and methods, andparticularly to a rye bread folding attachment for such machines.

'I'he main object of this invention is to adapt wrapping machines of the type shown'in my copending application Serial No. 334,479, filed January 23, 1929, to wrap rye bread or similar shaped articles which cannot be wrapped on machines of that type. A further object is the production of a novel method of wrapping rye bread or similar shaped articles. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In wrapping rye bread, because of its pointed ends, it is desirable to fold ther ends of the wrapt per downward an'd have the flap at the bottom of the loaf. To allow for this, the folding table of the wrapping machine is cut away atthe sides and a portionof the folding mechanism is placed over the openings so formedas hereinafter fully described. i

The novel rye bread end-folding mechanism comprises a` pair of pivotally mounted side tuckers which tuck the rear side of the overhanging ends of the wrapper inwardly against the loaf; a pair of vertically inclined stationary folders which gradually press down the top end-:flaps of the wrapper as the loaf is carried forward in the machine; and a pair voi? horizontally inclined stationary folders which push the then overhanging end-flaps back under the loaf as it passes over the cut away portions of the bottom folder plate, thereby makingthe bottom folds at the ends of the loaf.

'In carrying the invention into effect,there isv provided a process of, and apparatus for, wrapping an article partially encircled by a wrapper. In the best practice of the invention, the process is carried out by tucking the rear side only of the wrapper which partially encircles the article, then completely encircling the article in the wrapper, folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, and sealing the ends of the wrapper. All the apparatus that is essential tothe practice of the invention in its simplest form is means for tucking the rear side only of the wrapper, means for folding the endflaps of the wrapper over on the-bottom of the article, means for sealing the ends of the wrapper,

and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the Seal- 'the forward edge of which draws the wrapper about the article, as hereinbefore described, and stationary folding plates and folders cooperating to fold the ends of the wrapper on the bottom of the article, and the sealing means includes a l5 heated table. The novel package resulting from the practice of the method and apparatus comprises an article encircled by a wrapper, the ends of which have been closed in the manner outlined in the steps of the process described above.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts: k

` Fig. l is a plan view of the improved rye bread 25 folding device, the side frames and loaf forwarding means being omitted; 4

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig. `3 is a sectional view taken on the line 30 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the relation of the package and the folder plates;

Figs.. 4 to 10A show the different folding stages of thepackage as it travels Vthrough the machine;

f the nished 35 Fig. 11 is' a perspective view o package. l

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the stationary side frames 20 of the wrapping machine described in the above mentioned applica- .40-

tion have slidably mounted therein the slide bars 21 on which are xedlongitudinally extending. frame members 22 carrying the studs 23 to which the stationary vertical folding walls 24, 25'and 26 are attached, this construction also including 45 springs mounted on the studs to permit yielding movement of the folding walls in accordance with variations in the length of the loaves and constituting a part of the standardA equipment of ordinary bread wrapping machines. Heating units, not shown, carriedby .the folding'walls 25 and 26 radiate heat to the novel rye bread folding device which is attached to the folding walls 25 and 26 and will now be described. 55 The support plates 27 'of the folding device wrapping machine carry a number of studs which fit into correspond-- ing holes in the folding walls and 26 and are rigidly held in place thereon by the nuts 28. The longitudinal vertically inclined folders29, which have their further or rear ends horizontally disposed, carry the angles which are attached to the support plates 2'7 by the studs 3l having the nuts 32 threaded thereon. The short horizontal folders 33 are fastened at their front ends tothe support plates 27 by the screws 34 and have their other ends offset horizontally and downwardly. The front ends of the folders 33 rest on the folding table 35 having the slots 36 receiving the front edges of the folders 33 which are bent downwardly therein. At the extreme end of the support plate 27 are attached the spring plates 37 pressing against the deiiector plates 38 carrying the iiappers 39, the deiiector plates 38 being angle-shaped and having the slots 40 in their base into which are inserted the guide screws 41 threaded into the inclined folders 29. The folding table 35 and sealing table 42, over which the package passes while being folded, and sealed, are supported by parts of the frame of the machine, not shown. The transfer member 43 which is actuated by a cam, not shown, is pivotally supported by the side frames 20 and carries the side tuckers 44 attached to the arms 45, which are rigidly attached to the transfer member.

The operation of the rye bread folding device in carrying out the improved method to form the novel package is as follows:

The loaf, or other article, P, as in the ordinary is delivered by any suitable means, not shown, to an inclined plate 46- disposed below the table-35 and then moved in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Figs. 4 and 4A, by the pusher 47, engaging and taking along with it the end of the continuous web W of waxed paper, tin-foil or other suitable material, which is unwound from a reel, not shown, and hangs downwardly in a position in front of the plate 46 after the wrapper for the preceding loaf has been cut. Upon Iengaging the edge of the tra-nsfer member 43, which is then in its lowermost position 43', the wrapper end is folded under the loaf P and the overhanging ends of the wrap- V per are tucked inwardly at the rear side of the loaf by the side tuckers 44, as shown in Fig. 5. The transfer member then ascends` into position 43, carrying the wrapper drawing the wrapper over the top and forward side of the loaf, withthe web W hanging between the adjacent edges of the transfer 43 and folding table 35, as seen in Fig. 6. While in this position, the web is clamped and cut by suitable means,J not shown. The side tuckers 44 are formed with broadvblock shaped ends 48, thereby preventing the loose end-flaps from catching in the ends of the tuckers.

The loaf is now moved from the transfer member 43 onto folding table 35 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6, by pusher members 52 supported by the moving chains 51, thereby carrying the hanging wrapper end with itand folding it under the loaf as it engages the edge of the folding table 35. While the loaf thus moves forward, the overhanging end-flaps of the wrapper W adjacent the top and forward side of the loaf are pressed downward bythe inclined folding plates 29, as seen in Fig. '1. In proceeding forwardly, the loaf P iseengaged by the horizontal folders 33 which are so disposed as to provide, between plates 29 and folders 33, slots 49 (Fig. 3) into which enter the downwardly hanging endweb with it, thereby.

flaps of the wrapper W, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9. Since both sides of the folding table 35 are cut away, they permit the downwardly hanging flaps of the wrapper to be folded upwardly by the tapered portions 50 of the folding plates 29 which progressively fold the flaps inward under the tapered ends of folders 33. When the package reaches the horizontal tapered part of the folding plates 29, the bottom fold is gradually formed as the loaf travels along plate 29, as seen in Figs. l0 and 10A. When the package approaches the ends of the folders 33, it enters between the re-` silient strips 38 which hold the ends of the wrapper in place until they reach the heated sealing table 42, having a heating unit 53, the flappers 39 then holding the end-flaps of the package while the bottom-flap is being sealed. The package after sealing is carried onto a conveyor and is delivered from the machine as a finished package shown in Fig. 1l.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encirclingan article, of mechanism for simultaneously folding the overhanging end-flaps of the wrapper adjacent the top and forward sides of the article downwardly over the ends thereof and then folding the downwardly hanging flaps thus formed over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device.

2. The combination with means for tucking the, rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the 'sealing device, said tucking .means including a pair of stationary tuckers.

3. The combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means `for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device, said tucking'means including a transfer member movable from an inclined position at which it receives the article partially encircled by its wrapper to a horizontal position at which the article is moved to said folding mechanism to completely encircle the article in its wrapper, and stationary tuckers supported by said ,transfer member adapted to tuck the wrapperwhen said transfer member is in its inclined position.

4. The combinationl with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device, said mechanism including folding plates having a vertically inclined portion adapted to turn the end-flaps of the wrapper downwardly and a horizontal portion adapted to fold the downwardly turned end-naps on the bottom of the article.

5. The combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a Wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-naps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper,

downwardly and a horizontal portion adapted to fold the downwardly turned end-flaps ori the bottom of the article, and horizontally disposed folders having a portion spaced from said foldiing plates to provide a slot for guiding said endaps.

6. The combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, a device for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device, said mechanism including a folding table having cut away portions and folding plates arranged to fold the end-naps of the wrapper on the bottom of the article above said cut away portions. 'f

7. The combination with means for tucking therear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper o'ver on the bottom of the article, a device forsealinlg the ends ofthe wrapper,

and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device, said. mechanism including resilient strips for holding the folded ends of the wrapper in place until they reach said sealing device, and fiappers for holding the end-flaps of the wrapper in place on said sealing device.

8. The combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling anarticle,

of mechanism for simultaneously folding theoverhanging end-aps of the wrapper adjacent the top and forward ysides of'the article downwardly over the ends thereof and then folding the downwardly hanging flaps thus formed over on the bottom of the article, adevice for sealing the ends of the wrapper, and means for moving the article from the tucking means through the folding means to the sealing device, said device including a heated table.

v9. lllhe combinationfwith means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for simultaneously folding the overhanging. end-flaps of the wrapper adjacent.the top and forward sides of the article downwardly over the ends thereof and then fold-A ing the downwardly hanging flaps thus formed over on the bottom of the article.

10. 'I'he combination with means for tucking the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom of the article, said means including stationary v,block shaped tuckers, said' mechanism including stationary folding plates and stationary folders cooperating to fold the end-flaps of the wrapper on the .bottom of the article at both ends of the latter.

11. The combination with' means for tucking the rear'side only of awrapper encircling an article, of mechanism for folding the end-flaps of the wrapper over on the bottom-ofthe artic1e,.

said mechanism including stationary folding plates'and .stationary folders cooperating to fold the end-flaps of thewrapper on the bottom of the article at-both ends of the latter.

I and folders attached to said walls and cooperating'to fold the end-flaps ofthe wrapper over on the bottom of the article above said cut away portions of said table, flappers arranged to engage the folded ends of the wrapper to hold the folded tlaps inposition on the bottom of the article, and spring plates yieldingly supporting said flappers. 13. 'I'he combination with means for tuckin'g in the rear side only of a wrapper encircling an article, of devices for lforwarding the article, land mechanism for folding the end flaps of said wrapper under the article, including a stationary folder having a continuous folding surface extending downwardly alongside of the path of the article from 'a position above the end flaps of the wrapper to the bottom of the article and thence diagonally under the article toward the center thereof to fold said end ilaps under the article.

14. Means for folding the end flaps of a'wrap- `per encircling an article comprising in combination means for forwarding the encircled article and astationary folder having a continuous folding surface extending downwardly along the path of the article from a position above the end flaps of the wrapper to the bottom of the article and thence diagonally under the path of the article and toward the center thereof to 'fold said end naps under the article.

c 15. Means for folding the end flaps of a wrapper encircling an article comprising in combina- .alleling the portion of the stationary folder' extending under the article.

16. The process of'wrappinga loaf of rye bread, which comprises partially encircling the loaf in a wrapper having end flaps overhanging the ends of the loaf, then tucking in the end flaps of said wrapper adjacent one side of said loaf, then completely encircling' the loaf in said wrapper so that the longitudinal edges of the wrapper are in overlapping relation-on the bottom of the loaf, and

then simultaneously folding'the end flaps of said wrapper adjacent the top, the other side and bottom of the loaf over onto the bottom thereof.

1'?. The process of wrapping a loaf of rye bread,

which comprises partially encircling the loaf in a wrapper having end aps overhanging the ends of the loaf, then tucking in the end flaps of said wrapper adjacent one side of the loaf, then completely encirling the loaflin said wrapper so that the longitudinal edges of the wrapper are in overy lapping relation on the bottom of the loaf, then simultaneously folding the end flaps of said wrapper adjacent the top, the other side and bottom of lthe loaf over onto the bottom thereof, and heat sealing the naps folded over the bottom of the loaf. I

' FRANK REINHOLD SCHMITT. 

